Rain Gutter System For Mounting Atop a Roof

ABSTRACT

A new rain gutter system includes a set of interlocked segments that are placed about perpendicular to the roof atop the roof. The segments create a channel that is angled from one edge of the roof to the other. The segments also create a non-permeable barrier at the intersection of the segments with the roof which causes the rain runoff running down the slope of the roof to be redirected into the channel and passed to one edge of the roof where it is deposited into a drain. The non-permeable barrier is established by laying a skirt that extends from the bottom of each segment upwards against the slope of the roof. The skirt can be inserted underneath the shingles, sealed with a sealant, or the end of the skirt can be thin enough to rest bare atop the roof and still provide a sufficient barrier.

CLAIM OF BENEFIT TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. 14/076,249, entitled “Rain Gutter System for Mounting Atop a Roof”, filed Nov. 10, 2013 which is a continuation of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/769,572, entitled “Rain Gutter System for Mounting Atop a Roof”, filed Feb. 18, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,212. The contents of applications Ser. Nos. 14/076,249 and 13/769,572 are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to rain gutters for homes and buildings with sloped roofs.

BACKGROUND

The rain gutter system is an essential component for any home or building. The rain gutter system collects rain runoff from the entire surface area of the building's roof and transfers the runoff to a drainage system. Without a properly functioning rain gutter system, that same runoff is forced to the edge of the roof where it then falls onto the grounds adjacent to the building. This can obstruct visibility through windows underneath the roof edge and also produce excessive noise as the rain runoff aggregates into larger droplets or flows of water that drop from the roof to the ground adjacent to the building. Worse yet, rain runoff that is not properly redirected to drainage systems can result in flooding as the aggregate rain from the surface area of the roof is pooled to a much smaller area in the grounds adjacent to the building. This can cause damage to the foundation of the building and ruin landscaping. Beyond these functional roles, rain gutter systems also serve an aesthetic purpose to some by providing a bordering to the roof.

Rain gutter systems for homes and other buildings with sloped roofs have not changed for several decades. The standard rain gutter system involves U-shaped channels that overhang from the edge of the roof and that collect the rain runoff. The channels are interconnected at a slope so as to force the collected rain runoff to one end of the channel where the rain runoff is funneled into an enclosed channel that spans the vertical height of the home or building. The enclosed channel then redirects the rain runoff into a drainage system or other plumbing that moves the water away from the home.

While effective in their roles, these systems are in need of radical redesign to lower the cost of goods, reduce installation time and cost, and provide an alternative in building aesthetics. With regards to the cost of goods, standard overhanging rain gutter systems are produced with an unnecessary amount of raw materials. Specifically, the U-shaped channels that funnel the rain runoff from the roof are three-sided segments. Each three-sided segment includes material for a right lateral side, a left lateral side, and a bottom side with the material comprising either metal, aluminum, or hardened plastic. Therefore, one way to lower the cost of goods associated with standard rain gutter systems is to provide a redesigned system that does not need as many raw materials or, more specifically, provide a redesigned system that performs the same functional roles with a two-sided or single-sided channel In so doing, the cost of the raw materials needed for a gutter system is effectively reduced by a half or two-thirds.

With regards to installation time and cost, installation of a standard overhanging rain gutter is normally beyond the capabilities of the typical do-it-yourselfer and requires a contractor or one or more handymen to perform the installation. This is because of the danger that is involved in installing any structure to the edge of a roof irrespective of the fact that the channels are heavy and require one person to hold the channel in place while another secures the channel to the roof. Installation is also time-consuming because several brackets must be drilled, nailed, or otherwise secured to the roof in order to support the weight of the channels spanning the entire width of the roof. Moreover, overhanging rain gutters can damage the roof itself as water can enter through the mounting points of the brackets and thereby seep into and damage the underlying wood framework for the roof. Also, the brackets must be precisely installed so as to support the channels at an appropriate angle, thereby producing the slope by which gravity pulls the collected rain runoff to one end of the channel. An unforeseen cost is also the time or money needed to clear these systems from leaf and other debris buildup that could otherwise clog or render such systems ineffective. Every so often, someone has to remove such blockages from the channels. This can be done by the building owner with a ladder, but the time required to do so is nevertheless a cost.

As architecture has evolved, the standard rain gutter system has not. With regards to aesthetics, the look of the overhanging gutter system has become so commonplace that it is either ignored or viewed as an eyesore by some. Consequently, the standard rain gutter system simply does not conform aesthetically with the architecture or other design elements of some homes or buildings.

Accordingly, there is a need for an entirely new and improved rain gutter system. Such a system should be cheaper to manufacture, easier to install, and provide a different aesthetic on the home or building that is installed with such a system. Moreover, these advantages should be achieved without other tradeoffs with respect to effectiveness in removing rain runoff from the roof and without the introduction of other costs in maintenance, repair, or damage caused to the home or building that is installed with the rain gutter system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an alternative to standard overhanging rain gutter systems found on nearly every home and building with a sloped roof. It is further an objective to provide an alternative rain gutter system that is cheaper to manufacture, easier and less time consuming to install, and one that provides a different aesthetic to the standard overhanging rain gutter system. Moreover, it is an objective to provide these and other benefits without detrimentally affecting the functionality of the rain gutter system in effectively redirecting and removing rain runoff from a roof.

To achieve these and other objectives, a new rain gutter system is provided that takes advantage of the existing configuration of a sloped roof in order to minimize the raw materials that are needed to create a channel to redirect rain runoff, simplify the installation, and provide a new aesthetic to the building that is different than that provided by any overhanging rain gutter system. The system includes a set of interlocked segments that are placed about perpendicular to the roof atop the roof. The segments create a horizontal channel that is slightly angled from one edge of the roof to the other. The segments also create a non-permeable barrier at the intersection of the segments with the slope of the roof which causes the rain runoff running down the slope of the roof to be redirected into the channel and passed to one edge of the roof where it is deposited into a drain. The end segment may include a receptacle and a spigot that collects the runoff and redirects the runoff into a vertical drain.

The non-permeable barrier is established by laying a water-proof skirt that extends from the bottom of each segment upwards against the slope of the roof. The skirt can be inserted underneath the shingles or sealed with a sealant to establish the non-permeable barrier. Alternatively, some embodiments create the end of the skirt thin enough such that it may be allowed to rest bare atop the roof and still provide a sufficient non-permeable barrier.

Installation for such a system is simplified because only the end segments at either edge of the roof need to be secured to the roof. The intermediary segments are held in place by interlocking with one another and with the end segments using a male-female coupling mechanism. As such, the roof is only modified when securing the two end segments to the roof using nail, screws, clamps, or other securing mechanisms. Cost is also reduced when compared to traditional overhanging gutter systems. The system described herein requires fewer raw materials as it foregoes the need for a three sided “U” shaped channel to redirect the rain runoff. Instead, the system leverages a two sided “V” shaped channel, wherein one of the sides is the roof itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, various embodiments of the new rain gutter system will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the new rain gutter system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates the components of the start anchor segment and the end anchor segment.

FIG. 3 illustrates the end anchor segment of some embodiments with a funnel shaped receptacle and a spigot.

FIG. 4 illustrates an anchor segment in accordance with some embodiments, wherein the segment includes a single anchor block that is affixed to one end of the segment.

FIG. 5 illustrates interlocking two adjacent segments in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a pronged male-female coupling mechanism for interlocking segments in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative pronged male-female coupling mechanism for interlocking segments in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates from a top view, an interlocking mechanism that utilizes angled protrusions in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another interlocking mechanism using a nut and bolt assembly.

FIG. 10 illustrates the first skirt and second skirt of a segment in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates sliding the first skirt underneath a row of roof shingles during installation.

FIG. 12 presents a process summarizing the installation of the gutter system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates a gutter comprised of five of the interlocking segments.

FIG. 14 illustrates disassociated non-permeable membrane sections and a connecting segment of some embodiments.

FIG. 15 provides a shaded representation of the non-permeable membrane sections and the connecting segment.

FIG. 16 illustrates the drain section for the gutter system of some embodiments.

FIG. 17 provides side and perspective views to better illustrate the connecting segment of some embodiments.

FIG. 18 illustrates two non-permeable membrane sections that are coupled to a connecting segment in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 19 illustrates a connecting segment with extending nubs for the male coupler and non-permeable membrane sections with complimentary holes for the female coupler.

FIG. 20 demonstrates a connecting segment of some embodiments where the top lip and the bottom lip of coupling groove are one piece extending over the full length and curvature of the connecting segment face.

FIG. 21 illustrates a back view and a top view of a completed rain gutter system with the non-permeable membrane sections coupled to various connecting segments in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 22 provides a perspective view of the complete rain gutter system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 23 illustrates two connecting segments, each connecting segment has a non-permeable membrane section affixed to it and extending from one of side of the connecting segment with the other side open to receive and couple to the protruding end of the non-permeable membrane section of another connecting segment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the new rain gutter system are set forth and described. As one skilled in the art would understand in light of the present description, the system is not limited to the embodiments set forth, and the system may be practiced without some of the specific details and examples discussed. Also, reference is made to accompanying figures, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments herein described.

The rain gutter system advocated herein does away with the traditional overhanging rain gutter and replaces this effective but costly and time consuming standard with a simple, minimalistic, and unobtrusive design. This new design takes advantage of the existing configuration of a sloped roof in order to minimize the raw materials that are needed to create a channel to redirect rain runoff, simplify the installation, and provide a new aesthetic to the building that is different than that provided by any overhanging rain gutter system. In summary, the design integrates the roof as part of the rain gutter system.

FIG. 1 illustrates the new rain gutter system in accordance with some embodiments. The system works by affixing a set of interlocking segments 110 about perpendicular to the roof 120 and by angling the segments to form a channel that forces rain water to one edge 130 of the roof where a vertical drain 140 then removes the water. Once rain water contacts the roof 120, gravity forces the water down the slope of the roof 120 until it contacts the gutter segments 110. The segments 110 form a non-permeable barrier with the roof 120. This barrier prevents the water from seeping past the segments 110 and from reaching the ledge 150 of the roof 120. Instead, the water is redirected along the channel that is formed by the perpendicular intersection of the segments 110 and the roof 120. The water then collects at the edge 130 of the roof 120 and is fed into the vertical drainage system 140. The vertical drainage system may be the same or similar to those used for standard overhanging gutters.

This design provides several benefits over the traditional overhanging rain gutter systems of the prior art. Firstly, cost of materials is reduced. The parts of the new system include single-sided or inverted “V” shaped segments in contrast to the three-sided U-shaped channels of an overhanging rain gutter system. Accordingly, the parts for the new rain gutter system are easier to manufacture and constitute fewer raw materials, making them far cheaper to mass produce. Secondly, installation of the new rain gutter system is greatly simplified relative to traditional overhanging rain gutter system. This new system requires only two points of installation at a minimum. The first installation point is at one edge of the roof where a first end segment is anchored to the roof and the second installation point is at the opposite edge of the roof where a last end segment is anchored to the roof. All segments in between are supported by interlocking directly or indirectly with these two anchor segments. In other words, an installer need only drill holes, nail, or otherwise secure the anchoring end segments to the roof. The rest of system is interconnected without further modification to the roof. Thirdly, the new rain gutter system provides an entirely different aesthetic to the building. The height of the segments can be as low as one inch so that the entire system is almost imperceptible from a distance. In this manner, the new gutter system does not interfere with the architecture of the building or other design elements of the building as would a traditional overhanging rain gutter system. Fourthly, the new gutter system is less susceptible to clogging and the cleaning of the new gutter system is far simpler than traditional overhanging gutter systems. In fact, the new gutter system effectively cleans itself by using the rain the runoff to channel fallen leaves and other debris away from the channel and over a side of the roof.

The new rain gutter system is comprised of a start anchor segment, a plurality of intermediary segments, and an end anchor segment. The segments (i.e., start, intermediary, and end) interlock with one another in order to form a channel of sufficient width to accommodate roofs of different sizes.

FIG. 2 illustrates the components of the start anchor segment and the end anchor segment. The start anchor segment and end anchor segment are structurally similar in that they include anchor blocks 210 and 215, body 220, outer membrane 230, and interlocking element 235. The intermediary segments are structurally similar to the anchor segments except that they need not include any anchor blocks and they provide interlocking elements at either end of the segment. The structure of the intermediary segments will be clarified below.

The start anchor segment and the end anchor segment are the end pieces of the gutter system. As such, these segments are located at either the right edge or the left edge of the roof. These segments establish the position and angle of the entire gutter system and may be the only two segments that are physically secured to the roof, thus making installation of the entire rain gutter system easy and efficient. Additional anchor blocks may be used for added support when the roof is excessively wide or as will be discussed below, some of the intermediary segments may include an anchor block for additional support. The start anchor segment is vertically offset and positioned higher on the roof than the end anchor segment. The intermediary segments interlock in between the start and end anchor segments to create the angle for the gravity assisted channel that leads rain runoff to drainage. An installer will typically secure the position of the end anchor segment first before securing the start anchor segment and before interlocking the intermediary segments. The installer will want the end anchor segment to align with the vertical drain so that the collected rain runoff is directed from the gutter system into the vertical drain.

As shown in FIG. 3, the end anchor segment of some embodiments includes a funnel shaped receptacle 310 and a spigot 320. The receptacle 310 extends away from the anchor blocks thereby allowing the receptacle 310 to hang over the side of the roof. The receptacle 310 collects the horizontally flowing rain runoff from the channel and redirects the rain runoff to the spigot 320. The spigot 320 is vertically disposed at the bottom of the receptacle 320. In some embodiments, the spigot 320 is flexible rubber hosing. The flexible rubber hosing allows the installer to position the hosing in any vertical drain that runs along the vertical length of the building. This simple positioning of the hosing into the vertical drain is sufficient to cause the rain runoff to enter the vertical drain. In some embodiments, the spigot 320 is shaped as a nipple over which rubber hosing or PVC piping can be fitted. This allows the installer to create a vertical drain cheaply using the aforementioned rubber hosing or PVC piping, either of which can be easily worked with to run the vertical length of the building to a sewer system or ground drain.

The start anchor segment should be elevated with at least a three degree angle from the position of the end anchor segment. The steepness of the angle determines the rate at which rain runoff is channeled off the roof. Accordingly, a larger angle may be used for locations that receive greater amounts of sustained rainfall and where faster drainage is desired. However, there is no hard and fast rule for this angle or the offset between the start and end anchor segments. This further simplifies the installation as the installer can proceed with the installation quickly without the need for measuring.

The anchor blocks 210 and 215 provide the means by which to secure either a start anchor segment or end anchor segment to the roof. As shown, the first anchor block 210 is located behind the segment at a proximal end and the second anchor block 215 is located behind the segment at a distal end. The anchor blocks 210 and 215 are solid structures containing a receptacle (see reference markers 240 and 250). Each anchor block 210 and 215 can be made from hardened rubber or plastic. Each receptacle 240 and 250 may include an unthreaded hole through which a nail passes or a threaded hole through which a screw passes. The two nails or screws are longer in length than the length of the anchor blocks 210 and 215 so as to pass through the entire length of the segment and penetrate into the roof. The two nails or screws establish and maintain the position and angle at which the start or end anchor segment is secured to the roof.

Installation is therefore as simple as positioning the anchor segment at an end of the roof at a desired angle and hammering in two nails or driving in two screws into the roof to affix the position of the anchor segment to the roof. This results in much quicker installation time, much easier installation, and far less physical modification to the roof than required for the installation of traditional overhanging gutter systems.

Some embodiments provide start and end anchor segments with different anchor blocks than those described above. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates an anchor segment 410 in accordance with some embodiments, wherein the segment includes only one anchor block 420 that is affixed to one end of the segment. The anchor block 420 includes two holes for securing the segment to the roof. In some such embodiments, the anchor block 420 may be modified with three or more receptacles with each additional nail or screw providing further support in retaining the angle and position of the anchor segment when secured to the roof. For instance, a first receptacle may be located at a distal end of the anchor block and second and third receptacles are located at a proximal end of the anchor block and are offset from the first receptacle by a horizontal distance with the second receptacle being vertically offset though in parallel with the third receptacle, thereby providing a greater stabilizing force for the entire gutter system when secured to the roof.

In still some other embodiments, the anchor block can be an adjustable bracket that can be resized to clamp to an outer beam below the surface of the roof. Nails or screws can be used to secure the clamp to the beam. In some such embodiments, the bracket includes an inner shaft that slides in to and out from an outer shaft to adjust a height of the bracket. The inner shaft contains a series of holes that align with a hole on the outer shaft when the inner shaft is slid in and out of the outer shaft. A pin or screw mechanism inserted through a hole along the inner shaft that is aligned with the hole of the outer shaft sets the height of the bracket. A similar inner shaft and outer shaft combination can be used to set the width of the bracket. These adjustments allow the anchor block to clamp to beams of varying sizes that run underneath the roof surface. Receptacles along the bracket receive nails or screws in order to secure the position and angle of the start or end anchor segment to the roof.

With reference back to FIG. 2, the body 220 of any of the segments (i.e., start anchor, end anchor, and intermediary) is a rigid inner framework that defines and retains the shape of the segment. In some embodiments, the body 220 is an inverted “V” shaped frame. The frame can be constructed from rigid metals, rigid plastics, or composite materials. For instance, the frame can be constructed from steel, aluminum, hardened plastic, or graphite. The rigidity of frame is necessary to preserve the shape of the gutter system channel when each of the segments is interlocked with one another. In other words, the frame is of sufficient rigidity so as to provide minimal or no bend or flex when interlocked with other segments. The inverted “V” shape for the frame also acts to prevent slippage or movement of the segment when impacted by the force of rain runoff, though the segment primarily derives its static positioning by directly or indirectly interlocking to the secured start and end anchor segments. Some other embodiments replace the inverted “V” frame with a single planar structure.

In some embodiments, the body 220 rises one inch vertically. At one inch in height, the segments of the gutter system are nearly imperceptible from a distance. However, other embodiments provide for a body 220 that rises anywhere from half an inch to six inches in height. The height of the body 220 determines the amount of rain runoff that can be carried by the channel at any given moment. Therefore, a body 220 having a height greater than one inch would be better suited for locations that receive heavy sustained rainfall, wherein at such locations, the aggregate rain runoff collected at any position along the channel may reach over one inch in height. In other words, the height of the body 220 acts as a dam that holds the rain runoff from reaching the roof ledge, with the angle of the segments creating the necessary force to redirect the rain runoff to the roof edge where a drainage system removes the water from the roof. In some embodiments, the body 220 of each segment is one to five feet in width. Though, shorter and greater widths can be manufactured to allow the gutter system to fit the width of any roof segment by up to one foot.

In order to interlock the segments, the body 220 of a start or end anchor segment includes interlocking element 235 at one end, while the intermediary segments include an interlocking element 235 at either end of the segment. In the case of a start anchor segment, the interlocking element 235 can be a male coupler with the end anchor segment having the complimentary female coupler or vice versa. In the case of the intermediary segment, the segment includes a male coupler at one end and a female coupler at the other end. Any number of male-female coupling mechanisms can be used to interlock the segments. Some examples will now be given. However, these examples are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting and it should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other interlocking mechanisms can be used.

In some embodiments and as shown in FIG. 2, the male coupler is an extension of the body frame 235 that extrudes from the first end of the segment. For such embodiments, the female coupler comprises an empty cavity at the second opposite end of the segment. To interlock a first and second segment, the extruding frame segment for the male coupler of the first segment is slid into the female coupler of the second segment and when the extruding frame segment of the first segment abuts the frame of the second segment, the segments become interlocked. Also, the first segment is prevented from sliding further into the second segment because of the abutment of the frames.

FIG. 5 illustrates interlocking two adjacent segments 510 and 520 in accordance with some embodiments. At 505, the extruding male coupler 530 of segment 510 is aligned over the female coupler 540 of segment 520. Once aligned, the segment 520 is lowered at 550 such that the male coupler 530 of segment 510 inserts in the female coupler 540 of segment 520, thereby interlocking the two segments 510 and 520.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 6, the interlocking mechanism includes a male coupler with a pair of prongs 610 that extend out and away from the body towards the first end. The complimentary female coupler includes a pair of holes 620 towards the second end into which the prongs of the male coupler fit. The prongs of the male coupler are inserted into the holes of the female coupler, thus interlocking the two segments together. Alternatively as shown in FIG. 7, the female coupler may include opposite facing prongs 710 that interlock with the prongs 720 of the male coupler.

FIG. 8 illustrates from a top view, an interlocking mechanism that utilizes angled protrusions in accordance with some embodiments. In FIG. 8, the male coupler is an angled protrusion 810 that extends inward behind the body at the distal end and the female coupler is an angled protrusion 820 that extends inward in front of the body at the proximal end. Accordingly to interlock a first segment with a second segment, the second segment is brought behind the first segment and moved such that the male coupler of the first segment engages the female coupler of the second segment.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another interlocking mechanism using a nut and bolt assembly. This interlocking mechanism relies on manufacturing the body of the segments with one or two holes at each of the distal and proximal ends. During installation, the holes at the distal end of a first segment are aligned with the holes at the proximal end of a second segment. A bolt is then slid through the aligned holes and a nut is secured to the bolt, thereby interlocking the two segments.

With reference back to FIG. 2, shrouding each segment is the outer membrane 230. In some embodiments, the outer membrane 230 bends in a concave shape towards the apex to form the rain runoff containing channel. In some other embodiments, the outer membrane 230 is not curved but straight. The outer membrane 230 is made of a non-permeable material that envelopes the body 220. The non-permeable material is typically a flexible plastic or rubber based material that is waterproof and weather resistant. The non-permeable material is selected to withstand cracking and other deformation from direct sun, freezing temperatures, as well as rain, snow, and other outside elements. The non-permeable material can range in thickness, but is preferably a few millimeters thick.

The outer membrane 230 is wedge shaped and is a singular piece at the apex. Some distance below the apex, the outer membrane 230 splits to provide a central cavity within which the rigid frame of the body 220 is housed. The outer membrane 230 extends below the body for some distance and forms two skirts. FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 illustrate the first skirt 560 and second skirt 570 of a segment in accordance with some embodiments.

When a segment is placed perpendicular to a roof, each skirt flexes outward from the center of the segment. A first skirt flexes outward toward the apex of the roof and a second skirt flexes outward towards the ledge of the roof.

The first skirt sits flush against the roof and causes rain runoff to flow from the roof shingles over to the skirt and collect in the channel of the corresponding segment. The first skirt thereby creates a barrier that prevents rain runoff from running underneath and past the segments. In some embodiments and as shown in FIG. 11, the first skirt 1110 is slid underneath a row of roof shingles 1120 during installation. This installer is merely required to lightly lift the row of shingles in front of the first skirt and slide the edge of the first skirt underneath. This forms a tight seal that prevents rain runoff from passing underneath the segments since the rain runoff will flow over the shingles, onto the first skirt, and with the assistance of gravity, across the channel over the outer membrane of the interlocked segments. Additionally or alternatively, once the segments have been interlocked and placed on the roof, a waterproof sealant can be applied at the intersection of the first skirt and the roof. The waterproof sealant can be applied irrespective of whether the first skirt is slid underneath the roof shingles or is left atop the shingles. The waterproof sealant can include waterproof silicon or caulk as some examples. The sealant further serves to prevent rain runoff from passing underneath the first skirt. The sealant also does not physically modify the roof and can be easily removed using a blade without damage to the roof or its shingles. In some embodiments, the lip or edge of the first skirt is thin enough (a few millimeters) that is able to rest bare atop the roof and still create a sufficient non-permeable barrier that prevents a majority of the rain runoff from passing underneath or past the first skirt. In other words, once the first skirt is laid atop the roof, the water will run down the slope of the roof until it contacts the first skirt. The path of least resistance for the water is then to flow over the first skirt (not under) and into the channel created by the interlocked bodies of the segments where it is then redirected to the end anchor segment. As such, the first skirt need not be inserted underneath the shingles or sealed with a sealant, though such acts would improve the seal between the roof and first skirt.

The second skirt also sits flush against the roof. The primary purpose of the second skirt is to buttress the position of the segment and provide friction to prevent movement of the segment along the roof. Secondarily, the second skirt acts as a second seal to prevent any rain runoff that passes under the first skirt from passing past the segment. Instead, an unseen second channel is formed in between the inverted “V” frame of the body.

In some embodiments, the second skirt is omitted such that only the side of the segment that points towards the roof apex is housed with the non-permeable membrane. In some such embodiments, the entire body of the segment is not shrouded by the non-permeable membrane.

In some embodiments, the width of each of the first and second skirts is greater than the width of the body so as to provide overlap when one segment interlocks with another. This provides a continuous channel over which rain runoff will flow until it reaches the drain at the end anchor segment. Specifically, when the interconnection of the segments is achieved by placing one segment over an extruding male coupler of another segment, the skirts for the top segment will overlap and partially cover the skirts of the underlying segment. When the top segment is up-channel and the underlying segment is down-channel, that rain runoff will flow from the top segment to the underlying segment and the overlap of the skirts will retain the rain runoff wholly within the channel without the need of any additional sealant or waterproofing.

FIG. 12 presents a process 1200 summarizing the installation of the gutter system in accordance with some embodiments. Typically a first step in the process is to secure (at 1210) the end anchor segment so that it is aligned with the vertical drain running the vertical length of the building. Specifically, the end anchor segment is positioned over the vertical drain to allow gravity to direct the collected rain runoff directly into a cup or mouth of the vertical drain. Next, the process involves securing (at 1220) the start anchor segment with a vertical offset from the end anchor segment. Securing the anchor segments involves hammering a nail through the receptacles of the anchor blocks into the roof, screwing the anchor blocks to the roof, or clamping the anchor blocks to the roof as some examples. Next, the installer interlocks (at 1230) the intermediary segments between the start and end anchor segments. The installer may use shorter length intermediary segments when needed to ensure that the full width of the roof is spanned. For example, to span a roof that is 37 feet wide, the installer can use a 5 foot start anchor segment, a 5 foot end anchor segment, 5 intermediary segments that are 5 foot, and 2 intermediary segments that are 1 foot. Optionally, the installer can insert (at 1240) the segment skirts underneath the roof shingles and/or seal the gap between the skirts and the roof. This completes the installation.

As noted above, one enhancement that can be made to the design includes providing different length intermediary segments to allow installers to easily adjust the length of the gutter to the roof width. Another enhancement includes providing one set of intermediary segments that have an anchor block behind and in the middle of the segment and another set of intermediary segments that do not have an anchor block. The intermediary segments with the anchor block can be secured to the roof in the same manner as the anchor segments. These enhanced intermediary segments are intended to be interspersed between other intermediary segments that do not include the anchor block as a means of providing additional rigidity to the gutter if desired. The intermediary segments with the anchor blocks may be desired in areas that experience heavy rainfall, wherein the additional rigidity afforded by these segments can offset the force and weight of the aggregate rainfall against the segments. FIG. 13 illustrates a gutter comprised of five segments 1310, 1320, 1330, 1340, and 1350. Segment 1310 is the start anchor segment and is shown with two anchor blocks 1360 that fix the position and angle of that segment. Segments 1320 and 1340 are intermediary segments that do not include an anchor block. Segment 1320 is therefore held in place because of the interlocking with segment 1310 and 1330. Segment 1330 is an intermediary segment that does include an anchor block 1370. The anchor block 1360 secures the segment to the roof, thereby providing segment 1330 with additional support as well as providing the interlocked segments 1320 and 1340 additional support. Finally, segment 1350 is the end anchor segment shown with two anchor blocks.

In some embodiments of the rain gutter system, the non-permeable membrane is disassociated or detached from connecting segments that include intermediary connecting segments and anchor connecting segments. In some such embodiments, the non-permeable membrane is divided into sections, each section spanning some length and having opposite lateral ends. Each end of a non-permeable membrane section couples to a different connecting segment. Each connecting segment couples together two sections of the non-permeable membrane. In some embodiments, adjacent membrane sections that are attached by one connecting segment are provided some degree of overlap so as to create a continuous channel with the two adjacent sections. In addition to coupling together two sections of the non-permeable membrane, each connecting segment also acts to retain a position of the non-permeable membrane sections over the roof. The position of at least two anchor segments is secured to the roof by nailing or screwing those segments to the roof. Other intermediary segments are held in place by interconnecting with the anchor segments using the non-permeable membrane sections. FIG. 14 illustrates disassociated non-permeable membrane sections 1410 and a connecting segment 1420 of some embodiments. FIG. 15 provides a shaded representation of the sections 1410 and connecting segment 1420.

Each non-permeable membrane section 1410 has an upward rising section and a skirt extending below the upward rising section. The skirt thickness narrows at the outermost tip. This allows the skirt to slide underneath roof shingles or to abut the roof shingles such that water flowing over the roof shingles continues over the skirt until contacting the upward rising section where it is then redirected horizontally across the width of non-permeable membrane section 1410. In some embodiments, the skirt bends from the upward rising section so to provide flexion in order to accommodate roofs with different pitches. In some embodiments, the width of the skirt, or more generally, the membrane section 1410 is elongated at one end so as to overlap with an adjacent membrane section when the two sections are coupled by a connecting segment 1420. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the membrane sections 1410 have a concave shape and are shown to be essentially “C” shaped. However, in some embodiments, the membrane sections 1410 are essentially “L” shaped or the skirt can be flexed from the upward rising section to produce an “L” shape. The membrane sections 1410 may be of plastic, vinyl, or other non-permeable composition that is waterproof. The composition provides some degree of structural rigidity so as to not deform against the weight of water and other forces while also providing durability to withstand variances in temperature and weather.

A special drain section is provided as an end piece for the gutter system. The drain section also couples to any of the connecting segments 1420. FIG. 16 illustrates the drain section 1610 for the gutter system of some embodiments. The drain section 1610 has part of a non-permeable membrane section 1620 for use in coupling to a connecting segment. The drain section also includes a funnel and/or spout 1630 to redirect the collected rain runoff to a vertical drain. Water flowing across the membrane section 1620 deposits into the funnel and down the spout.

FIG. 17 provides side and perspective views to better illustrate the connecting segment 1420 of some embodiments. Each connecting segment 1420 maintains the inverted “V” framework with a front leg 1710 and a back leg 1720 that are separated at the base, but that join at the apex. Struts or reinforcing beams may provide additional support within the framework. As before, this framework provides the stable base that allows the connecting segment 1420 to sit about perpendicularly over the roof surface. In some embodiments, the bottom of either or both of the front 1710 and back 1720 legs contains teeth to provide better grip against the roof surface.

Formed over the front leg of the framework is the connecting segment face 1730. The connecting segment face 1730 is shaped complimentary to the shape of the non-permeable membrane sections 1410. Accordingly, the connecting segments face 1730 is typically concave in shape. About the face 1730 is a coupling groove 1740.

The coupling groove 1740 along with the lateral ends of the non-permeable membrane sections 1410 are parts of a male-female coupling mechanism used to couple two membrane sections 1410 to the connecting segment. In some embodiments, the coupling groove 1740 comprises at least top lip, though some embodiments further provide a bottom lip. The top and bottom lips extend over the connecting segment face 1730 and extend towards the center by some distance, thus providing the female coupler of the male-female coupling mechanism. The lateral ends of the non-permeable membrane sections 1410 are the male couplers of the male-female coupling mechanism. Specifically, the lateral ends slide into the opening between the lips and the connecting segment face 1730 where they are then held in place. To create the continuous channel over which the collected rain runoff flows, the coupling groove 1740 may be sized to allow one end of a first non-permeable membrane section to slide underneath the inserted end of a second non-permeable membrane section. The overlap causes the collected rain runoff to flow from the second non-permeable membrane section to the first non-permeable membrane section without any break in the channel Some embodiments allow for less of an overlap by allowing the coupled membrane sections 1410 to abut within the coupling groove 1740 with some amount of the skirt of one membrane section overlapping with that of the other. FIG. 18 illustrates two non-permeable membrane sections that are coupled to a connecting segment in accordance with some embodiments.

The coupling groove 1740 can provide force or other coupling means to lock the position of the inserted membrane sections 1410. The force can stem from spring-like properties that are manufactured into the coupling groove 1740. The spring-like properties cause the outer lip of the groove 1740 to press against the face 1730 of the connecting segment 1420. With some counter-force, the outer lip can be displaced from the connecting segment face 1730 to allow for insertion of the membrane section 1410 ends. Once the ends have been positioned, the counter-force can be removed, causing the outer lip to press the inserted ends of the membrane sections 1410 against the connecting segment face 1730, thereby holding them in place. Thus, the coupling groove 1740 provides a clamping force to hold the membrane sections 1410 in place.

In some other embodiments, the coupling groove 1740 does not exert any force on the ends of inserted non-permeable membrane sections 1410. Rather, the inserted sections 1410 are held in place based on their resting position within the coupling groove 1740.

An alternative nub and hole male-female coupling mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 19. FIG. 19 illustrates a connecting segment 1910 with a coupling groove that has a set of nubs 1920 that extend away from the connecting segment face. In some such embodiments, each of the non-permeable membrane sections 1930 has complimentary holes 1940 along the upward rising section. The holes can be aligned over and pushed into the nubs, thereby locking the position of the membrane section 1930 to the connecting segment 1910.

Some embodiments of the connecting segments 1420 forego the coupling groove 1740 altogether, instead providing the male-female coupling assembly as the sole means for coupling the non-permeable membrane sections 1410 to the connecting segment 1420. Any male-female coupling including the aforementioned nub and hole mechanism can be used.

In still some other embodiments, holes are provided on the connecting segment face 1730 and upward rising section of the non-permeable membrane sections 1410. To couple the pieces, a hole of one membrane section 1410 is aligned over a hole along the connecting segment face 1730, a bolt is slid through both holes, and a nut is tightened at the end of the bolt.

In some embodiments, the top lip and the bottom lip of coupling groove 1740 are one piece extending over the full length and curvature of the connecting segment face 1730. FIG. 20 demonstrates some such embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 17, some of the connecting segments 1420 further comprise an anchor block 1750. The anchor block 1750 extends from or is attached to the back leg 1720 of the framework. The anchor block 1750 provides one or more receptacles for securing the connecting segment 1420 to the roof surface. In some embodiments, the receptacles are vertical cavities into which nails or screws can be driven. The receptacles can extend at an angle to counter any forces pushing the connecting segment 1420 against the back leg 1720.

Some embodiments include capsules within each of receptacles. The capsules hold a sealant. When a nail or screw is driven through the capsule, the capsule ruptures and the sealant flows into and around the hole that is made into the roof surface by the nail or screw. When the sealant cures, the hole is waterproofed, preventing any water from entering into those holes.

To create the rain gutter system using the disassociated non-permeable membrane sections 1410 and connecting segments 1420 described with reference to FIGS. 14-20, an installer first secures two anchor connecting segments at opposite horizontal ends of the roof, toward the roof ledge, with a slight vertical offset between the two connecting segments. Next, the installer inserts one end of a non-permeable section into one of the anchor blocks, couples another connecting segment to the opposite end, and slides the skirt underneath the roof shingles or places the skirt so as to abut the shingles. The intermediary connecting segments need not be secured to the roof, though structural rigidity may necessitate that some of the intermediary connecting segments be secured using the anchor blocks. The installer repeats this until a channel forms across the full width of the roof. It should be noted that non-permeable sections that are coupled to the connecting segment are provided some overlap so that the collected rain runoff cannot permeate in between the non-permeable sections. The drain piece is the attached to the last connecting segment with the spout of the drain piece being coupled to a vertical drain. Any rain that then flows vertically down the roof, will collect into the channel The vertical offset between the connecting segments at the horizontal ends of the roof creates a downward slope that forces the collected rain runoff to one end of the channel where it is deposited into the vertical drain. FIG. 21 illustrates a back view and a top view of a completed rain gutter system with the non-permeable membrane sections coupled to various connecting segments in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 22 provides a perspective view of the complete rain gutter system in accordance with some embodiments.

The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 14-22 have described disassociating and coupling the non-permeable membrane sections 1410 to the connecting segments 1420. However, in some embodiments, each connecting segment 1420 may have one non-permeable membrane section 1410 permanently affixed to it and extend from one side of the connecting segment 1420. FIG. 23 illustrates two connecting segments 2310, each connecting segment 2310 has a non-permeable membrane section affixed to it and extending from one of side of the connecting segment 2310 with the other side open to receive and couple to the protruding end of the non-permeable membrane section of another connecting segment 2310. Thus, to assemble the gutter system, one need only couple to protruding end of one segment into the open end of another. 

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. A gutter system comprising: a plurality of concave shaped non-permeable sections, each non-permeable section comprising a female coupler from a male-female coupling mechanism disposed at either lateral end of the non-permeable section; and a plurality of connecting segments, each particular connecting segment comprising: (i) an frame comprising a front leg and a back leg in an inverted “V” shape configured to support the entirety of the particular connecting segment about perpendicularly atop a roof; (ii) at least one male coupler from the male-female coupling mechanism, the at least one male coupler interlocking any two non-permeable sections to the particular connecting segment when coupled to the female coupler of the two non-permeable sections, and wherein the male coupler is disposed on an outward face of the front leg.
 12. The gutter system of claim 11, wherein each non-permeable section further comprises a skirt that extends a specified distance below the frame of a connecting segment when coupled to the connecting segment.
 13. The gutter system of claim 11, wherein the female coupler at one lateral end of a non-permeable section interlocks with the male coupler of a first connecting segment and an opposite lateral end of the non-permeable section interlocks with the male coupler of a second connecting segment.
 14. The gutter system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of non-permeable sections form a non-permeable channel in combination with a roof surface by dispersing the plurality of connecting segments laterally across the roof at a slight angle, interlocking the plurality of non-permeable sections to the plurality of connecting segments using the male-female coupling mechanism, and wherein the non-permeable channel prevents rain runoff flowing vertically over the roof shingles from passing underneath and behind the plurality of non-permeable sections at a position where the plurality of non-permeable sections intersect the roof surface.
 15. The gutter system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of connecting segments comprises an anchor block about the back leg, the anchor block comprising a first receptacle and a second receptacle, wherein each receptacle comprises a column with a central cavity into which a nail or screw is driven through.
 16. A rain gutter system with a two-sided channel that leverages a roof surface as one-side of the two-sided channel, the rain gutter system comprising: a plurality of connecting segments dispersed laterally across and atop the roof surface with at least one foot of distance separating each connecting segment from another, wherein each connecting segment comprises a first coupler of a male-female coupling mechanism, and wherein at least two of the plurality of connecting segments comprise an anchor block with a vertical cavity into which a screw or nail is driven to secure the connecting segment atop the roof surface; and a plurality of non-permeable concave sections, each non-permeable concave section comprising first and second lateral ends with a second coupler of the male-female coupling mechanism that couples to the first coupler of a connecting segment, wherein the plurality of non-permeable concave sections form a continuous non-permeable second side of the two-sided channel when the second coupler on the first and second lateral ends of each non-permeable concave section is coupled to the male coupler of two adjacent connecting segments, and wherein the two-sided channel is formed at the intersection of the plurality of non-permeable concave sections and the roof surface.
 17. The rain gutter system of claim 16, wherein the two-sided channel redirects rain runoff flowing vertically over the roof shingles into and horizontally across the plurality of non-permeable concave sections at a position where the plurality of non-permeable concave sections intersect the roof surface.
 18. The rain gutter system of claim 16, wherein the second coupler couples to the first coupler by sliding the second coupler into a groove of the first coupler.
 19. The rain gutter system of claim 16, wherein the second coupler comprises an opening and the first coupler comprises a protruding nub, and wherein the second coupler couples to the first coupler by inserting the nub of the first coupler into the hole of the second coupler.
 20. A gutter system comprising: a plurality of non-permeable sections, each non-permeable section having a width greater than two feet, a height greater than one inch, a concave rigid upper body, and a flexible skirt extending from a bottom of said upper body; and a plurality of anchor segments, each anchor segment comprising a first leg and a second leg joined at a top end and separated at an opposite bottom end by a distance, each anchor segment further comprising at least one receptacle extending from either the first leg or the second leg, the receptacle comprising a cavity into which a nail or screw is driven through to secure a position of the anchor segment atop a roof surface, and wherein each anchor segment couples first and second non-permeable sections with the first and second non-permeable sections abutting one another such that fluid flowing onto and over the skirt of the first non-permeable section continues its flow seamlessly across the first and second non-permeable sections.
 21. The gutter system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of anchor segments and the plurality of non-permeable sections form a two-sided channel with the roof surface with one side of the two-sided channel comprising the plurality of non-permeable sections and the other side of the two-sided channel comprising the roof surface.
 22. The gutter system of claim 21, wherein the two-sided channel is formed by securing the plurality of anchor segments with at least one foot of distance separating each anchor segment from a neighboring segment about horizontally across the roof surface and by coupling a first end of each non-permeable section to one anchor segment and a second opposite end of each non-permeable section coupling to an adjacent anchor segment with the skirts of the non-permeable section flexing about perpendicular to legs of the plurality of anchor segments and about parallel with the roof surface.
 23. The gutter system of claim 20 further comprising a non-permeable drain section comprising a funnel with a vertical spout and a non-permeable extension protruding from one end of the funnel in a shape of a non-permeable section, the non-permeable extension for coupling the drain section to one of the plurality of anchor segments.
 24. The gutter system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of anchor segments are configured to stand atop shingles of the roof surface while coupling together the plurality of non-permeable membrane sections with the skirts of the plurality of non-permeable membrane sections about parallel with the shingles.
 25. The gutter system of claim 24, wherein coupling the plurality of non-permeable membrane sections to the plurality of anchor segments across the roof surface forms a continuous channel that redirects rain runoff flowing vertically over the shingles onto the skirt and horizontally across the non-permeable channel rather than underneath and behind the plurality of anchor segments.
 26. The gutter system of claim 20, wherein the skirt is adapted for insertion underneath a roof shingle, and wherein insertion of the skirt underneath the roof shingle creates a seal that redirects water flowing vertically over the shingle onto and horizontally across a width of the non-permeable membrane section rather than underneath and behind the non-permeable membrane section.
 27. The gutter system of claim 20, wherein each non-permeable section is essentially “C” or “L” shaped.
 28. The gutter system of claim 20, wherein each non-permeable section couples to an anchor segment by snapping onto the anchor segment.
 29. The gutter system of claim 20, wherein each non-permeable section comprises at least one hole and each anchor segment comprises a nub, and wherein each non-permeable section couples to an anchor segment by inserting the hole of the non-permeable section through the nub of the anchor segment. 